What interventions are on the horizon in obstetrical care? What does the research tell us about those interventions that are being used more frequently? What can midwives do to help women have normal births?

Articles in this issue include:

Editorial: Technology: Stemming the Tide, by Jan Tritten. Technology can make take away the beauty of birth, when used unnecessarily. Editor Jan Tritten argues that midwives are in a position to change the tide of unnecessary technology, using the evidence that is accruing.

Marion’s Message: The Death of Queen Jane, by Marion Toepke McLean. Technology, in the guise of cesarean delivery, has been around for some time now. Marion shares this folk song about the death of a queen after a c-section.

Helping Women Avoid Unnecessary Interventions, by Dale Bernucca. This article shows how having the research data and conclusion handy can help women avoid unnecessary interventions in the hospital.

Choose and Lose: Promoting Cesareans and Other Invasive Interventions, by Marsden Wagner. Excerpted from his 2007 book, Born in the USA, this article tells us why doctors would want to encourage c-sections.

Just a Plain Birth, by Marlene Waechter. In contrast to the many stories of medicalized birth in this issue of the magazine, this story of a simple Amish birth is a refreshing read.

Technology and Fear, by Ann Davenport. The bells and whistles of technology are often driven by fear, and in many cases can only predict, not improve. This author suggests that controlling fear may help to limit technology to what is necessary.

The Future of Obstetric Technology, by Michel Odent. "Can humanity survive the safe cesarean?" Dr. Odent discusses what we have to lose if this trend continues.

Episiotomy, Hospital Birth and Cesarean Section: Technology Gone Haywire—What is the Sutured Tear Rate at First Births Supposed to Be?, by Judy Slome Cohain. Doctors began performing episiotomies on birthing women under the belief that it helped prevent tears. This conclusion has been turned on its head, yet episiotomies are still standard procedure in some quarters. Midwife Judy Slome Cohain shares data showing that homebirthing women generally neither tear nor need episiotomies.

Cervicometry: What All Women Need to Know, by Kathleen Furin. This article, reprinted from Mothering, shows the lengths to which modern obstetrics and drug device companies will go to make birth a high-technology event.

Blogging to Boost Your Birthing Business, by Sheri Menelli and Anne McManus. Marketing guru Sheri Menelli, along with a co-author, shares a simple way to increase your business.

Birth Rape: Another Midwife’s Story, by Shea Richland. A flashback sends a midwife back in time almost 40 years to the traumatizing birth of her daughter.

What can You Do to Make Changes with Care Today?, by Ireena Keeslar. Machines are gradually replacing people, in the interest of simplifying work and saving time. Midwife Ireena Keeslar suggests that we learn hands-on basic skills and make change in our own areas of control.

Midwifery & Birthing: Women in Peru, by Cynthia Ingar. Rural Peruvian women are struggling for proper health care, yet the official government policies are in conflict with tradition practices. The author makes suggestions for meeting in the middle.

Report from the Field: Midwifery in Hungary—An Evolution, by Andrea Nandu Noll. Learn about the current status of midwifery and homebirth in this fascinating article.